Who is Frank Santa Cruz?

[AndrewT1976]

And why do I keep hearing his name pop up on this board from time to time?

[scooterh67]

Frank took guitar lessons from Randy and is a member of this forum and has given us many great stories about Randy including showing us a post card he received from Randy when he was with Ozzy. I think he also recorded one of the guitar lessons he had with Randy! He is also very close to the Rhoads family.

Cheers!
Scott

[AndrewT1976]

Oh cool! Alright. That seems like a gentleman with some good insight.

[zennman]

Frank was also a pall-bearer at RR's funeral, I believe.

[AndrewT1976]

Is his real last name Santa Cruz? Or is it because he is originally from Santa Cruz, CA? You know, like a guy from Philidelphia named Frank might be living in Arizona, and all of the locals call him Philadelphia Frank not to confuse him with other Frank's.

[Paul Wolfe]

Frank was friends with Randy and is still close friend with Randy's sister and family. Yes, he was a pall bearer at Randy's funeral. Frank has contributed a wealth of information to this site (and tk) about Randy as a person as well as a guitar player. He is indeed a gentleman and a very kind person.

Frank has recordings of all his lessons with Randy as well as the papers Randy wrote out for him (he has been asked by Delores not to make these recordings public, so don't ask ). He is as much an authority on Randy as anyone you'll ever find on the Internet.

And, yes, his name is Santa Cruz.

[AndrewT1976]

Why is Delores so protective of keeping anything Randy-related from surfacing to the public? I mean, a couple of earnest letters from a dear friend is not such a bad thing to share. Come on, give us some insight on how Randy interacted with his friends.

Am I to assume that after Delores passes away there will be a lot of Randy stuff getting released?

[Paul Wolfe]

Am I to assume that after Delores passes away there will be a lot of Randy stuff getting released?

That is the assumption of many. Delores has earned respect and out of this respect, a lot of people willingly hold stuff back.

[Stiltzkin]

That is the assumption of many. Delores has earned respect and out of this respect, a lot of people willingly hold stuff back.

this is what I don't get. they're probably(what do I know) holding back on various Randy related
music material from both his QR and Ozzy days for some reason, but they have no problem
with Randys sister releasing a wine with Randys name and his trrademark polkadots.

I mean, there's a bunch of other artists lesser known than Randy, that has more material
released so what's the damn holdup with the man we're all here to admire?

[Cryptic Night]

That is the assumption of many. Delores has earned respect and out of this respect, a lot of people willingly hold stuff back.

this is what I don't get. they're probably(what do I know) holding back on various Randy related
music material from both his QR and Ozzy days for some reason, but they have no problem
with Randys sister releasing a wine with Randys name and his trrademark polkadots.

I mean, there's a bunch of other artists lesser known than Randy, that has more material
released so what's the damn holdup with the man we're all here to admire?

I think it's because Randy was a perfectionist. Delores doesn't want to "lessen" his image of being a perfect angel. Just my opinion though.

[Cpt Matt Sparrow]

Why is Delores so protective of keeping anything Randy-related from surfacing to the public? I mean, a couple of earnest letters from a dear friend is not such a bad thing to share. Come on, give us some insight on how Randy interacted with his friends.

Am I to assume that after Delores passes away there will be a lot of Randy stuff getting released?

Andrew, on the positive side, if you don't already have it, another former pupil of Randy's Robert La Fond has published a book full of lesson plans drawn out by Randy himself. It really is an excellent book
http://www.amazon.com/RhoadsScholar-com ... 1419680455

Also, someone else who has always been very generous with her time is Janet Robin. E mail her and she will always get back to you! (she is an awesome guitarist singer/songwriter)

Matt

[Paul Wolfe]

I think it's because Randy was a perfectionist. Delores doesn't want to "lessen" his image of being a perfect angel. Just my opinion though.

Not necessarily his image as an 'angel', but Delores seems to be a bit of a music snob - which is NOT a bad thing... She seems to feel that, musically, the quality of the Quiet Riot songs was not very good, so she doesn't want poor quality stuff released. In addition, she's from a different era. One during which musicians would never release rehearsal tapes or work-in-progress songs.

I don't feel that she is slighting the 'fans' in any way. When it comes to being protective of her son's music, it's just the way she is. The 'fans' are very demanding in regards to 'deserving' more and more and more, rather than being thrilled when something is given. If it were my son in the spotlight and every time I OK'd something I read all the negative, 'We deserve more for keeping the memory alive,' commentaries, I'd hesitate to OK anything, too.

As for the wine, that was a tribute from a sister to a brother. Kathy is a wine maker, it's what she does. She wanted to commemorate her love for her brother in the arena that she lives in. That is nothing but a respectable endeavor, in my opinion.

[mikesline]

frank's a real cool guy ! but he's sweating it out in the desert-HaHaHa
i wish you could hear his lessons with randy,he don't release them probably cause it's with the great randy rhoads
but i think it's cause he's so terrible on guitar in those dayz. ,just messin frank.
mikey

[Geo Sav]

I would love to hear the tapes. I wish more would pop up from other students.

[CanuckRhoadsFan]

I think it's because Randy was a perfectionist. Delores doesn't want to "lessen" his image of being a perfect angel. Just my opinion though.

Not necessarily his image as an 'angel', but Delores seems to be a bit of a music snob - which is NOT a bad thing... She seems to feel that, musically, the quality of the Quiet Riot songs was not very good, so she doesn't want poor quality stuff released. In addition, she's from a different era. One during which musicians would never release rehearsal tapes or work-in-progress songs.

I don't feel that she is slighting the 'fans' in any way. When it comes to being protective of her son's music, it's just the way she is. The 'fans' are very demanding in regards to 'deserving' more and more and more, rather than being thrilled when something is given. If it were my son in the spotlight and every time I OK'd something I read all the negative, 'We deserve more for keeping the memory alive,' commentaries I'd hesitate to OK anything, too.

As for the wine, that was a tribute from a sister to a brother. Kathy is a wine maker, it's what she does. She wanted to commemorate her love for her brother in the arena that she lives in. That is nothing but a respectable endeavor, in my opinion.

I'm going to be honest here - I've always found the family's reaction to releasing ANY Randy material has been....well...strange.

That being said, I believe they're totally within their rights to do as they please with Randy's "stuff", and his legacy. I cannot even begin to imagine how difficult the loss of Randy was for them, and they've handled his fans and the hoopla surrounding his legacy with grace for years. I think that people judge, perhaps, based on how THEY would deal with his legacy, but ultimately, it's up to his family how it is treated.

As a fan, I respect their choices, even if I don't always understand them.